Pick 'Ems 10: Week 4 Reflection

Got: Michigan, Maryland, Auburn, LSU, Oklahoma, Florida State

Missed: Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Arkansas, Oregon State

Total: 6-4

Overall: 23-17. So NC State is for real, Georgia Tech is not, and Cincinatti might make a comeback. Alabama's going to suffer a surprise upset, and Kentucky is not as good as advertised.

Laugh a Little Wednesday

But first, apologies. Contrary to what may be believed, the UAB game totally jazzed me. First, this would be a trap game for any team; a smaller program sandwiched between an emotional loss and an upcoming conference contest. Second, the lack of our use of the run game made clear Dooley was not employing a real game plan; we were working on the pass to make us more balanced going into SEC competition. Thirdly, how can you be heartened by the fact we went against a more talented, deeper team that beat us on paper but the W goes in our column? Our season is not over yet.

Anyway, I think the Onion was going for humor but actually hit truth. For example, I have actually worked the Tennessee/Kentucky rivalry into one of my Shakespeare papers.

Pick 'Ems 10: Week 4

Tech week and approach of grad school mid-terms is not a happy combination for blogging. Just getting these picks posted (mea culpa for missing the Miami game) is an accomplishment.

1. Bowling Green v Michigan: Needs this pick explaining?

2. Florida International v Maryland: See above.

3. NC State v Georgia Tech: This is a toughie. The Wolfpack has the momentum, the Jackets have the program. That gives them the edge.

4. Kentucky v Florida: Though that doesn't bode well for our shot at them.

5. South Carolina v Auburn: I just want the Gamecocks knocked from the top of the east.

6. Alabama v Arkansas: Alabama's not going to run the table this season, and right now the Razorbacks look like they'll put up the most resistance.

7. West Virginia v LSU: SEC, of course.

8. Oregon State v Boise State: They're one of my favorite little western schools.

9. Oklahoma v Cincinatti: The Bearcats are on my list, and thus inelgible for picking.

10. Wake Forest v Florida State: Why wouldn't I?

Pick 'Ems 10: Week 3 Reflection

Got: Arizona, Stanford, Auburn, Florida State, Alabama, Arkansas

Missed: NC State, UNLV, LSU, Ole Miss

Total: 6-4. The NC State fiasco made me feel like a sell out. Never picking outside my rooting interests again. Except I probably will.

Overall: 17-13. Gettin' my groove back.

We Are All Spartans

You probabbly don't know Michigan State is my favorite non-Southern team, and there gutsy overtime win over Notre Dame instantly becmae one of my favorite games ever. Coach Dantonio has done amazing things with the program, but perhaps at a price. Mere hours after the victory that catapulted them to #25, he suffered a heart attack. The damange is minimal and he's expected to recover, but his offensive cooridinator has taken over indefinitely. Please keep all those affected in your thoughts.

Game Review: Florida v Tennessee- September 18 2010

Before the game, I could be found deep in conversation with my dear old roommate. Like true SEC fans, we’d all ready dissected every aspect of our game and moved on to the national scene. I declared it would be best if Arkansas beat Georgia, but a Bulldog victory could easily be spun in the SEC’s favor. “Why aren’t you a commentator for ESPN?” he wondered.

Four hours later, as I sat sobbing in the endzone to the Pride of the Soutland’s strains of the Tennessee Waltz, I knew why.

The loss itself, like a noble death, had no sting. I’ve been cheering for the Vols for nearly a decade and have sat through them all: close losses and blowouts, last second losses and those in which the game need not have continued after halftime, ugly losses and moral victories. A type of loss I haven’t suffered does not exist, and, until today, only two have actually induced me to tears.

I could blame the onset of sun poisoning, but I won’t. I’ll admit to being moved by a long, emotional game in which we came so close and found ourselves wanting, yet again. But unlike so many past losses, this loss does not indicate a painful descent into mediocrity but rather a slow rise into superiority. My entire Volunteer life has been tainted by the word “rebuilding;” only this year has it been true. For the first time, the future is an exciting opportunity and not a maelstrom of inevitable underachievement. My tears intermixed the salt of disappointment with the water of reasonable optimism.

I could also harp on our mistakes and the many weaknesses we have that scare me, but I won’t. An open wound needs a suture, not a scalpel. There are more than enough threads to stitch up our wounded pride.

Our D is stout and disinclined to surrender many first downs. Our offensive line is the best we’ve ever had when one considers it has no returning starters. Our quarterback becomes more accurate with every pass and has finally learned sometimes QB’s are more like garbage men—you just need to throw it away. Our field goal kicker earns three points every time it’s asked of him, including at a record long. We faced our second Top Ten team in as many weeks, and took them down to the final six minutes. Even after that, we all—players and fans alike—bared our hearts as if the game were still in our grasp.

After the game, as is customary, the teams shook and huddled on the field. Florida left the field to the jubilation of Gator fans just as the Pride struck up Rocky Top. Not even the cheers of the victor could drown out Tennessee’s voice. To paraphrase a former coach: we will never hear the naysayers; Rocky Top’s playing too loud.

Pick 'Ems 10: Week 3

2. Arkansas v Georgia: Arkansas is supposed to be good this year and even though that has become meaningless this season, it never pains be to root against the Bulldogs.

3. Vanderbilt v Ole Miss: Oh wow. Battle between the two worst teams in the SEC? Vandy will always be Vandy, so the edge goes to the Rebels.

4. Alabama v Duke: If the Tide can beat Penn State without Ingraham, I'm sure they can beat Duke with Ingraham.

5. BYU v Florida State: BYU has the hype, but I loath BYU. After two disastrous Cincinatti picks, I'm sticking with my rooting interests, so I pick the Seminoles.

6. Clemson v Auburn: SEC all the way.

7. Mississippi State v LSU: The Bulldogs almost came through for me last week, and is LSU any better than Auburn? This is a difficult pick, but if I stay true to myself, I'm going with the Bulldogs.

8. Wake Forest v Stanford: My gut reaction is to always pick against a California school. But we saw how Stanford stuck it to me last week, and I need the PAC-10 to be for real this year. Get to it, Christams Trees.

9. UNLV v Idaho: I can't believe I'm having to pick this one. The Bulldogs because I wrote prejudicial things about Idaho in my book.

10. Iowa v Arizona: See the Stanford game.

Pick 'Ems 10: Week 3.A

1. Cincinnati v. NC State: I love the Wolfpack but have watched enough of their games to know falling apart is their favorite thing.

Oh, Laugh a Little

1. At Boise State and their season opening "quality win."

2. At these men discussing fashion and superstition like housewives.

3. At Fulmer's delusion, because if you don't, you'll start crying (your last few years only winning nine was "an act of terror"? Like those two losing seasons that finally cost you your "job" which I only put in quotations because I've seen pizza delivery boys that cared more about their work than you did. Basking in the glow of your single national championship and reiterating pathetic excuses for underachievement season after season does not dedication make. Dedication strives for excellence, not complacency. And where do you get off ragging on Dooley's failure to change the culture? 1. He's been here, what, seven months? It took you "a heckuva" lot longer to drive our program in the ground. 2. If you'd been doing your job, this wouldn't have happened. This is your fault. And we know you don't want us to be successful and rip away what little reputation you have left. I can't wait until we're back and you're just a footnote in our history. Wait, this one turned out not so funny).

Pick 'Ems 10: Week 2 Reflection

Got: Ohio State, Alabama, LSU

Missed: Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Colorado State, UCLA, Georgia Tech, Georgia

Total: 3-7. The State Bulldogs almost came through for me, but UGA was a total fail. No tears shed of Notre Dame's defeat, because- hey, the Irish losing always makes for a good day. How bad must Colorado State be for them to get creamed by Nevada? And since when is Stanford good enough to be ranked? What a week.

Overall: 11-9. This is what I get for actually going to a game every week; I'm not able to scope out everyone else.

Game Review: Oregon v UT- Sept 11 2010

Any true southerner saw the conspiracy as it unfolded. The unranked, destitute Vols controlling the best team out of the PAC-10 threatened the much-anticipated humiliating season for the once premiere team. So the refs did what they could do: they began calling phantom personal fouls against the home team and ignored blatant ones by the Ducks. They allowed Oregon to ignore a punt returner’s halo and committed other such crimes in the eyes of fans. Great teams overcome bad calls. Tennessee is not a great team. Yet.

They looked it in the first half. They made breaks, forced turnovers, and capitalized on scoring opportunities. Not even the rain so severe officials suspended the game and evacuated the bleachers dampened anyone’s spirits. We fans, huddled together on Neyland’s ramps, kept in cheering practice by chanting “I say it’s great. To be. A Tennesse Vol” and pretending lightening bolts were touchdowns. We eavesdropped on the lucky few who managed to get cell service and thus checked the score and weather reports. We gawked at two popular Oregon fans donning shirts proclaiming: We hate Kiffin, too.

After the seventy minute impromptu tailgate party, the game resumed. Never have a fanbase and team been so in sync. For months, we had heard the Ducks brush off the hostile environment Neyland can create; the fans wanted to make Oregon respect our stadium. For months, we had heard how inferior our team is to every other team in the nation; the players wanted to make Oregon respect our game. Both parties proved their worth in the first three quarters. The stadium was raucous, causing several miscues and pre-play penalties. The team responded in kind, making huge stops against Oregon and prolonging drives past anything we thought possible. The game may have been slowly slipping away, but our spirits were not.

Then the Pick Six happened. We all tried to believe we could come back from a thirteen point deficit, but reality paraded itself on the field. Their offensive line outweighed our inexperienced defensive line by an average of twenty-three pounds per player. Their well stocked offensive line tete-a-teted with our offensive line—the offensive line with zero returning starters. Rookies make mistakes. They stare down receivers, try to force great plays rather than wrapping up a good play, misrun routes. Most importantly, rookies don’t know how to respond adversity. As fatigue set in, mental mistakes increased and morale decreased. The game’s narrative transformed from respect for hanging with one of the nation’s top teams to the pre-determined script of failure.

But is it really failure? Lost in the point differential’s gulf is the fact Tennessee exceeded everyone’s expectations. We fell apart due to inexperience, something time and coaching can easily resolve. A loss early in the season is worth every heartbreaking moment if the team can learn from their superior opponent.

Kudzu grows up to a foot a day. No one likes kudzu. Consider instead, the orange tree, which takes about three years to bear fruit. Mark your calendars.

Pick 'Ems 10: Week 2

2. Georgia v South Carolina: No current information is available on them, so we'll go with the old: in the past decase, Richt has had modest success and Spurrier hasn't had any.

3. Georgia Tech v Kansas: No compelling reason not to go with the southern team.

4. Florida State v Oklahoma: Oklahoma has the hype, the Seminoles have...a new coach? It pains me, but I'll give the Sooners the nod.

5. LSU v Vanderbilt: however awful LSU is supposed to be there, surely they can beat the Commies.

6. Penn State v Alabama: The Tide better roll; represent the S-E-C!

7. Stanford v UCLA: I'm all ready down one this week, so I'll take the safe bet.

8. Colorado State v Nevada: The Rams (?), as if anyone cares.

9. Miami v Ohio State: The Buckeyes are too highly rated; Miami is full of thugs. Jim Tressel kind of looks like my Dad; I hate the Big Ten. I'll let them take this one and hope for an in-conference implosion.

10. Michigan v Notre Dame: I hate the Wolverines; I hate the Irish. Has Michigan done anything since losing to Appy State? The Irish are on a good roll. But is there any way to bear their bragging and the media hype, should they win? Michigan would be nearly as bad, though. So I'll go with my gut, though this should in no way be considered an endorsement.

Hie Thee...

...to find out when the replay is if you didn't see tonight's West Virginia/Marshall match-up. Great game-- as long as you're not rooting for either team.

Pick 'Ems 10: Week 2.A

Auburn v. Mississippi State: Oooh, a toughie. Knee jerk is to go with Auburn because of recent history and all. The Bulldogs had a convincing win over Memphis, which trumps Auburn's victory of whatever little school they played. I hate State because of their cowbell nonsense, so could I root for "cowbell" as my formerly football challenged friend calls them? Especially in their own stadium? I'm going to live bold and say yes.

High Bronco Update

Turns out the "play anyone, anywhere, anytime" meme that is Boise State's only possible saving grace, is a complete lie. It's not just ego that makes real programs snub a home-and-home requirement. If you don't understand why a non-AQ school doesn't get to make demands, then you don't understand college ball economics. Perhaps I'll school you on that if I find the time. In the meantime, I'm fully comfortable putting Boise State on my List (of programs I despise and will root for under only the extremest of circumstances).

On My High Bronco

I'm about to say something that will rackle the haunches of any Boise State (or any weak conference) fans: Boise State didn't win. Viriginia Tech lost. Neither team looked good, but the Hokies wrapped up the first quarter and gave it to the Broncos like the Hare stepping aside for the Tortoise. Had Boise State had such a rough start, would they have the fortitude to take the lead? More than likely, we won't know since they don't have another decent team on their schedule. In the past five seasons, they've played five real teams (and please note, were soundly beaten by their SEC opponent. Represent, UGA!). It's easy to rake in those premiere wins when you have all summer to prepare for that one team, since, after that game, your schedule is a cakewalk. You don't have to worry about injuries depleting your depth, or sandwich games between big rivals, or any of the usual wear and tear competitors in real conferences deal with. There premiere wins are even less impressive when one considers every few years, real teams have an embarrassing hiccup against a vastly inferior opponent; might not Boise be that hiccup in some of these cases?

I admit, I feel sorry for Boise State. The American in me admires their scrappy spirit. It sucks their stuck in a weak conference. But my pity doesn't give them a pass. There are too many outstanding teams with just as much moxie and more difficult schedules. A team should never be rewarded for a weak schedule; Boise State in the national championship game will be the final nail in college football's coffin.

Picke 'Ems 10: Week 1 Reflection

Got: Minnesota, South Carolina, LSU, Mississippi State, Clemson, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida

Missed: TCU, Cincinnatti

Total: 8-2, one of which I knew I was going to lose. Both of my losses are far outside my welkin, so I’m not feeling too bad.

Overall: 8-2. I’ll take that start.

What You Missed: Martin v. UT

If you weren't blessed enough to be in Neyland for Saturday's game, you might have seen:

• The team’s sideline are on the opposite side of the stadium this year, so as the team ran through the T, the live Smokey instinctively started running the wrong way.
• Also, it was Smokey’s birthday, so we sang Happy Birthday to him once during the second and once during the third quarter.
• During one of his many costume changes, mascot Smokey came out dressed like Flava Flav.
• Non-spirit band songs: Livin’ on a Prayer during the second quarter (they started this one during ’06, and it has an appropriate chorus for our program now. I can’t wait until that changes). Sweet Caroline during the second quarter (which was hilarious, because the only part we know is “Sweet Caroline, oh-oh-oh” so there’s this pretty music punctuated by occasional spurts of drunk voices). Will You Be My Girl in the fourth quarter (they’ve been doing this one for several seasons). I’m not counting Ironman because it’s not a sing-along and we have the choreographed shaker movements that make it a cheer. I think they only played it once, anyway. There was also that classical instrumental that’s played in the Heidi animated movie during the storm during the fourth quarter. Halftime was their lame West Side Story show.

Game Review: Martin v. UT 9-4-10

I could start by moaning about the fear our underdeveloped offense strikes in my heart. I could start by praising the hope our stalwart defense instills in me. I could even—miracle of miracles—pontificate over the best special teams UT has fielded this century. What is most striking in our fifty point victory over Martin is not the product on the field but the culture of change Dooley promised. The student paper included, next to an ad proclaiming its product “The best thing to happen to Knoxville since Lane Kiffin left,” a quotation from Coach Dooley claiming the Power T could stand for tradition. Tonight was entirely about reclaiming our Tradition of Excellence.

The changes start upon entering the shadow of Neyland Stadium. Gone is the ‘70’s era erector set; in is a classic brick style monument, that admittedly won’t feel complete until the end of September, when the double-life size statue of General Neyland is unveiled. Even the fans comprising the waves in the Sea of Orange don an upgrade celebrating our tradition: the official game day shirt displays the lyrics of our official fight song, Down the Field, on the back. The souvenir cup did not feature our new coach’s smirking mug (like last year) but a photo of the iconic Run through the T with the caption Tennessee Football: Unrivaled Tradition. That tradition continued, of course, with the pre-game festivities. From the quirky (the announcer promoting the available concessions, imploring the crowd to “Pay these prices, and Please. Pay. NO. MORE!”), to the sentimental (the presentation of a former Vol on the field while highlights from his career play on the JumboTron) and awe inspiring (one cannot know what passion means unless they have experienced the Pride’s nearly unchanged pre-game march, culminating with “Stars and Stripes” while the crowd excitedly begins murmuring “Here it comes, here it comes” just before the Split T, unveiling our beloved team). Neyland’s Maxims flashed on side marquees throughout the game. Even our snazzy new JumboTron displayed a moving video history of Volunteer football. All these touches were much appreciated by the 99,123 faithful packed in the stadium, not as a nostalgic yearning-for-the-past way, but as a reminder: this is where we come from, this is who we are. Whatever leadership complacency of recent years has affected the current loss of national respect, nothing can upend us from our roots, and there is no better privilege than being a part of the University of Tennessee.

Winning the game also brought us back to our foundation. We adhered to all seven of General Neyland’s maxims. We won not by shock and awe trickery, but pounding away with near perfect execution of defensive fundamentals.

More importantly, the boys played the way a Volunteer should. Even from the tippy top of our steep stadium, I could feel their hunger. They were a team determined to exceed expectations. Not the expectations of the fans, desperate for a season to be proud of after the nightmarish past five years. They were determined to meet the expectations they have put on themselves, as a team, as players proud to wear the Orange and White, as boys ready to do right by themselves, their school, and their program. Their conviction radiated from every sinew of their well-conditioned bodies.

A program’s season is decided in the final minute of its first game. Here you will see how your team will stand up to adversity or carry itself in victory. The scene for the final minute of the Martin game: in the previous series, Martin had gotten into scoring position for the first time and missed their field goal. UT put together a drive with its second and third stringers, poised with a first and ten from the Skyhawk fifteen. Last year’s coach would have gone for the jugular, missing one final touchdown by seconds, then trashed his team’s effort on Sunday morning. Coach Dooley lined the offense up in the Victory formation and ran the clock out. He accomplished the evening’s goal, and that was enough.

Pick 'Ems 10: Week 1

3. Miami (Ohio) v. Florida: I've got no love for the Gators but must face reality.

4. ULL v. Georgia: I've got even less love for the Bulldogs, but reality is even more of a factor here.

5. Kentucky v. Louisville: The Cardinals have been sliding and the Wildcats have been rising. I'll give the benefit of the doubt to the SEC.

6. North Texas v. Clemson: Toughie. I hate Clemson and everything in Texas. Still, the ACC is the SEC Lite and get the call.

7. Memphis v. Mississippi State: Oooh. Memphis is scrappier than most give them credit for, and the Bulldogs are still a question mark. Benefit goes to the SEC.

8. LSU v. North Carolina: This was supposed to be the premiere event, what with the Tigers being coached by the time management impaired Les Miles and the Tarheels hailing from a real conference. Then UNC got themselves in a heap of trouble and no one knows what to think. So I won't betray my SEC brethern, however corn-doggy they might smell.

9. Cincinnati v. Fresno State: Don't know anything about these teams, but Cincinnati is supposed to be tops, so I'll take them.

10. Oregon State v. TCU: My head knows TCU wins, but I despise them, so I'll be pulling (hence picking) the Beavers.

UnforSeen Complications

Turns out, the trouble with ditching a storied program after just one year have lasting effects. The lasting heckling his ethics have taken are just the tip of the iceberg. When your reaction to each of your first victories sound nearly identical, it seems less honest reflection on your coaching and more posturing by faux humility.

Pick 'Ems 10: Week 1.A

1. Minnesota v. MTSU: The Gophers are coming to Murfreesboro? Really? I'd love to pick the home/southern/school that half my family obtained advanced degrees from, but I've been to a Minnesota game, and they won. Maybe that's happened to me twice.

2. Southern Miss v. South Carolina: I have very little respect for the Gamecocks' on field product generally speaking, but the SEC always beats a non-BCS (that's posturing, not a literal fact. Exceptions exist, I'm sure).

Pick 'Em Rules

My pick 'ems system last year was a mess, but I can't remember why it didn't work, so this year will not be an improvement. Here's the way it works:

1. I'll visit my favorite schedule site.
2. I'll pick the first ten games available for viewing in my home that pit an FBS team against an FBS team, with at least one team residing in the southeast region. In the event these restrictions include fewer than ten games, I'll open picking to any FBS v. FBS game, starting with the last broadcast game and moving up through the schedule until ten games have been picked.
3. I will not pick a UT game. I think I bent that rule last year, and it made me feel icky.
4. Picks will be posted the day before/morning of the game(s).

Not a perfect system, but I don't want to pick just the top ten every week, or just SEC or what have you. We'll see how this goes.